硅藻硅酸盐转运子(silicate transporter, SIT)研究进展

硅藻是海洋浮游植物主要类群和海洋生态系统的重要初级生产者,其硅质壁的存在使其成为了海洋生物硅的最大贡献者,而且成为海洋碳汇的主要来源。因此,硅质壁形成机制的阐明至关重要。硅酸盐转运是硅藻硅质壁形成中的关键,阐明其转运机制对建立硅藻代谢途径模型和进一步理解硅藻在海洋生态系统及生物地球化学循环中的作用具有重大意义。硅酸盐转运子(silicate transporter,SIT)是硅藻中参与硅吸收或转运的一类膜蛋白,因其重要性及多样性成为讨论及研究的焦点。本文综述了硅藻中SIT的分子特征、分子机制、功能多样性及进化关系,为SIT转运机制的研究提供了理论基础。

Progress and perspectives on silicate transporter (SIT) in diatoms

Diatoms are the main group and the primary producers in the ocean. The presence of frustule makes them not only the single greatest contributors to marine biogenic but also marine biological carbon sink. Therefore, to elucidate the mechanism of frustule formation in diatoms is very important. Silicate transport is the key to frustule formation in diatoms. Silicate transporter (SIT) is a class of membrane proteins involved in silicate absorption and transport in diatoms. Because of their importance and diversity, diatoms have become a hot spot of discussion and research. In this paper we summarize the molecular characteristics and mechanisms, functional diversity, and evolutionary relationships among SIT in diatoms, providing a theoretical basis for the study of SIT transport mechanisms.